Embiara Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil

Embiara Lodge is the labour of love of businessman Paul Grol and his wife Tina. Paul fell in love with the Pantanal in 1996 and, eventually bought this vast cattle ranch in 2000. Part of the reason for buying was that miles of the beautiful Rio Negro flowed through his land. His passion for fly fishing could be quenched while working the ranch.
Tina and Paul decided a couple of years ago to share this magnificent location with friends, to begin with, but now, finally with clients. Tina, as a successful interior designer set to work creating a beautiful lodge and private bungalows, while Paul developed the infrastructure to enable first quality fishing and eco tourism.
The result, as you will see, is magical. They have succeeded in creating a refuge of superior comfort, while not sacrificing one iota of the beauty and integrity of the surroundings.
Whether riding with the “Pantaneiros” (local cowboys) rounding up cattle, riding through the stunning plains seeking out the wildlife, kayaking through the flooded fields or “vazantes”, you will be looked after in every respect. The fishing skiffs are first class, all fitted with clean 4 stroke outboards and are ideal for fly fishing.

Heading due west from Sao Paulo towards the geographical centre of South America, you reach the Pantanal. This vast wetland roughly the size of mainland Britain, spreads over much of the states of Matto Grosso and Matto Grosso do Sul. It runs along the northern reaches of the Paraguay River and spills into Bolivia and Paraguay.
The Pantanal is almost entirely flooded from November till, in some places, April. The waters then recede and the landscape changes from a lush green veined with rivers, streams and lakes, to a brown savannah, forcing the innumberable species of birds and mammals to congregate close to what water is left.
Of interest to the angler is the fact that this is the Brazilian home of the wonderful Golden Dorado, as well as up to 200 other species of fish. Aside from the Dorado, the Piraputanga, Pacu, Trairas and others are core to the Game Angler.
Aside from the fabulous fishing, The Pantanal offers a fabulous destination to travel with a family or non-fishing partners as a week could easily be taken up exploring this stunning land on horseback, canoe or 4x4. It is also one of the most keenly priced destinations in Brazil.